Malcolm X

Philosopher &

Militant Leader

o Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. o Father taught him morals concerning black pride and self reliance.o His family moved several times due to racism.o After his father died, his mother was sent to a mental institution. o Malcolm was sent to several foster homes.

EARLY LIFE

Leading into the wrong path• Moved with sister to Boston• He was drawn to the lifestyle of street life. • Sold drugs, gambled, pimping, and

burglary.• In 1942, moved to Harlem and continued

lifestyle.• At age 20, he was sentenced 10 years in

prison.

The Islamic Nation• Malcolm began to

change his life around in jail.

• Brother spoke to his about the black Muslims.

• Malcolm was released from jail and went to go meet Muhammad in Chicago.

• He then was accepted and earned the name Malcolm X

A True Leader • Malcolm X became the national

spokesman for black Muslims.• He was the speech-writer, philosopher,

and inspiring speaker.• Malcolm called for self defense in the face

of white violence.• Encouraged people to leave Christianity

and not vote in politics.

•Martin Luther King Jr. Was Christian.•Graduated College at age of 17.•Always lived a positive lifestyle.• Represented the Christians.• Believe in non-violent protest, and influenced by Gandhi.

•Malcolm X Dropped out of high school. •Lived the street life. •Broke the law, and lived unjustly•Represented Islamic Nation.• Believed in Fighting back and was influenced by Marcus Garvey and Muhammad

• By 1959, the Black Muslim movement was in the spotlight.

• Racial tensions at this time had reached the boiling point.

• Rumors start floating around that Malcolm X wanted to take the seat of Elijah Muhammad.

• Personal jealousy was also in the question• On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X announced he was

leaving the Nation of Islam. • Created two of his own organizations.• He remained a believer in the Islamic religion

• Traveled through Africa and Europe, and to Saudi Arabia.

• He wrote that he no longer believed that all white people were evil, and felt he found the true meaning of the Islamic religion.

• He changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

• After renouncing Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X had been marked for assassination.

• His house was bombed, but his family managed to escape unharmed.

• On February 21, 1965 Malcolm X had arranged a speaking engagement in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom.

• 3 Gunmen rushed Malcolm onstage and shot hit 15 times at close range.• Malcolm X had been pronounced dead in the hospital.• Malcolm’s assassins were convicted of first-degree murder, and all of them were members of the Nation of Islam.

Citations

• Burke, B. (2004) “Malcolm X on education’, the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/malcolm.htm

• Mararble, Manning. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. Penguin Group USA, Inc. (2011)

• Myer, D Walter. Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly. HarperCollins (2003). University Press.

• Rabaka, Reiland. “Malcolm X and/as Critical Theory: Philosophy, Radical Politics, and the African American Search for Social Justice.” Journal of Black Studies. Vol. 33, No. 2. www.Jstor.org/stable/3180931 

• Rummel, Jack, Wagner L Heather (2004). Malcolm X: Militant Black Leader. Black Americans of InfoBase Publishing.